33. Ben
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
ben
FINALLY STILL
I’m sitting in the chair beside Katy’s bed, our baby asleep on my chest, his tiny hand gripping the edge of my t-shirt like he’s already picked me to be his favorite person.
It’s only the three of us in the room, and Katy should still be sleeping, but she won’t stop staring at us.
I don’t think I’ve ever loved her more. I look up at her. “What?”
She shakes her head, smiling. “You’re just… so calm and quiet. You’re never like this.”
I laugh quietly. “Guess I finally found something worth being still for.”
The smile she gives me is everything. The baby stirs with a soft whimper, then blinks, those same light blue eyes flickering in the dim light.
Katy bites her lip and smiles at that, the kind of slow, tired grin that says everything is finally right in the world.
There’s a soft knock at the door. I glance up, then look at Katy. “That’s probably your brother and Ella. Is it okay? Are you up for it?”
She nods. “Yeah.”
I carefully place the baby in her arms and go to the door.
Ella peeks in first and freezes the second she sees the baby. “Oh,” she breathes. “Oh my God.”
Declan steps in behind her and goes still too.
Ella crosses the space slowly, eyes shining. “Can I?”
Katy nods silently, her throat probably too tight for words.
Ella leans over the bed, one hand pressed to her mouth as she looks down at him.
“He’s perfect,” she whispers. “Katy… he’s so perfect.”
Declan clears his throat and steps closer, studying the baby with the same intensity he brings to everything else.
“He looks like Ben,” he says quietly.
I snort. “Apparently it was important to him to be clear about that.”
Ella laughs softly through her tears. “It really was.” She looks at me then, really looks at me, and something like pride settles over her expression. “You did really well,” she says simply.
I swallow. “She did all the work.”
Ella’s gaze shifts back to Katy, fierce and proud. “We’re proud of you.”
Declan nods once. “Yeah. Very proud.”
The baby squirms against Katy’s chest, making a small unhappy noise.
My hand comes up automatically, steadying him.
Declan watches that—the ease, the instinct—and something in his posture shifts.
“Hey there,” he whispers, his voice rough. “Welcome to the family, little man.”
Ella straightens and wipes her cheeks. “Welcome, baby. I’m Auntie Ella, and I love you so, so much.” Then she wrinkles her nose. “Okay.” Her eyes flicker from me to the baby.
Katy glances at her weakly. “Okay, what?”
She points at me. “He needs to take a shower.”
I blink. “I’m fine.”
Ella raises an eyebrow. “You smell really bad. And I have two brothers and a golden retriever that likes to swim.”
Declan snorts.
“I ran here,” I protest, glancing down at myself. “I didn’t—”
“And we love you for it.” Ella is already steering me toward the bathroom. “But go. Wash the game off. We’ll stay with her.”
I hesitate, looking at Katy like I’m not ready to be farther than a foot away from them.
“We’ll be okay,” she says softly. “Go.”
Declan nods. “We’ve got them. Take five.”
I exhale, finally letting go. “Okay. Just don’t let him steal my spot.”
Ella grins. “Please. I’m not that heartless.”
As I head toward the bathroom, Declan settles into the chair beside the bed, calm and solid. Ella perches on the edge of the bed, smoothing the baby’s blanket with reverent care.
When I come back ten minutes later, Ella is still staring at the baby, openly crying, and Declan’s pretending he isn’t. I take him from Katy and place him back on my chest so she can rest.
“Try to sleep,” I say, kissing her forehead.
Declan gives me my seat back, and I settle there with the baby. Ella snaps a picture before I can protest, the baby tucked against my chest, his blond fuzz unmistakable.
Winters Family
Ella
Guess whose genes won?
Leo
WINTERS BLOND. I KNEW IT.
Mateo
That kid already looks judgy. Definitely ours.
Jack
Well. That answers that. Congratulations, son.
Caroline
Oh, thank God. He’s beautiful.
James
Proud to welcome the newest Davis.
Caroline
Let us know when Katy is up for visitors. Can’t wait to meet him!
I look down at my son, my chest warm and full, and finally let myself smile.
“We’ll let you breathe,” Ella says. She pauses at the door, glancing back with a smile that’s equal parts teasing and soft.
“We’ll still be right outside,” she adds. “But take your time. You earned it.”
The door closes again and the room settles. I exhale slowly and look down at my baby.
“Guess we’re really doing this, buddy,” I murmur.
“Yeah,” Katy says softly. “We are.”
Katy is finally sleeping when I snap a selfie of the baby tucked against my chest, impossibly small, impossibly perfect, and send it to the group chat.
Maybe Daddies Brigade
Ben
[photo]
Logan
No way. That’s a clone.
Matt
Wow, Mini-Ben
Jason
Not fair. I was hoping for a mini linebacker
Matt
As long as he keeps the giraffe, I’m good.
Logan
Butthurt. Congrats, though.
Ethan
Changing the group name right now.
The title at the top updates:
Almost Baby Daddies
I exhale a laugh and shake my head, thumbs hovering for a second before I type.
Ben
Take it, suckers. He looks just like me. My swimmers are better than yours. DNA test tomorrow just to make it official.
Ben
For real though, I appreciate you guys. Thanks for looking out for her. And for not being assholes about the whole thing.
Logan
Of course.
KATY
Ben helps me shower like it’s the most normal thing in the world. He doesn’t rush me; he’s beyond patient and so, so careful. And it doesn’t feel awkward at all.
He keeps one hand on my back the entire time, steady and warm, like he’s afraid gravity might suddenly betray me. When my knees wobble, he notices before I do.
“Easy,” he murmurs, already adjusting his grip. “I’ve got you.”
The water is warm, steam curling around us, and when I close my eyes, the tension in my chest finally loosens. He washes my hair slowly, methodically, fingers gentle against my scalp.
I don’t feel exposed. I feel safe with him.
After, he wraps me in a towel and helps me sit, crouching to dry my legs, my feet, like this is just part of his job.
“Sorry,” I say automatically.
He frowns. “For what?”
I swallow. “For… needing help.”
He meets my eyes in the mirror. “Katy, you had a baby yesterday. My baby. If anything, I should be apologizing to you.”
“Very true,” I say cheekily.
That earns me a soft smile.
Once I’m dressed and settled back into bed, he straightens the pillows, tucks the blanket around my waist, and steps back to assess me.
“You good for more people?” he asks.
I consider it. My body aches. My emotions feel loose and unpredictable.
“I’m still tired,” I admit. “But yeah, I want to see them.”
His face lights up with what I think is pride. He seems ready to show off his mini-me to the world.
“Okay,” he says. “I’ll manage the chaos. And I’ll kick them out the second you look overwhelmed.”
“Thank you.”
He presses a quick kiss to my forehead, then turns toward the door, already shifting into protector mode. I feel taken care of.
Grandma Patty is first. “Hi, sweetheart. How are you feeling?”
“I’m okay. Just a little tired.”
“Well, I hope you’re hungry too. I brought you some takeout. Let me hold this little cutie while you two eat something better than hospital food.”
“Thanks, Grandma.”
I hadn’t realized how hungry I was until I took the first bite. Poor Ben must have been starving too. He inhales his food in about thirty seconds. I realize he probably hasn’t eaten since he got here.
Grandma is already in love. I see that it pains her to give the baby back, but she does. She steps out to let Caroline and James meet their grandson.
Caroline comes in first, her expression composed until she sees the baby, then it shatters.
“Oh my,” she breathes. “He’s so precious.”
James follows, just as undone.
Ben clears his throat. “Mom, Dad. Meet—”
Caroline crosses the room and pulls him into a fierce hug. “I know,” she says thickly. She turns to me, eyes shining. “Thank you for him.”
My throat tightens. “He’s pretty incredible.”
James nods approvingly at the bassinet. “He looks just like Ben when he was born.”
Caroline laughs softly and lifts the baby with practiced care, cradling him like she’s been waiting her whole life for this exact moment.
“That’s it, James. We’re moving.”
Ben blinks. “What?”
She shrugs. “We were already considering it. And now—” She looks down at her grandson, smiling. “Now it’s settled.”
“I couldn’t agree more, honey.”
They don’t stay long. They don’t linger. They tell me I’m amazing and the baby is beautiful, then filter out with hugs and quiet congratulations.
When the room finally empties, Ben closes the door and leans back against it, exhaling.
“You still okay?” he asks.
I nod, reaching for his hand. “Yeah. I really am.”
Ben squeezes my fingers, then glances over at the bassinet like he still can’t believe it’s real.
“We did good,” he murmurs.